The Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) 2025 is a grant program administered by the U.S. Embassy in Suriname aimed at protecting and preserving cultural heritage. This includes historic buildings, archaeological sites, museum collections, and traditional cultural expressions such as indigenous languages and crafts. The program emphasizes the cultural and historical significance of the projects rather than religious or commercial considerations. Grants range from $25,000 to $500,000, contingent upon the availability of funding.

Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, non-governmental organizations, public international organizations, governmental institutions, U.S.-based institutions of higher education, and U.S. non-profit organizations with Section 501(c)(3) status. Individuals and commercial entities are not eligible to apply. Applicants must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) with an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

Funded activities may involve conservation, documentation, preventive conservation, restoration, stabilization, and other preservation efforts. Projects may include work on sites or objects of religious significance only if their cultural and historical value is the primary criterion for nomination. The AFCP does not support projects involving privately owned properties, natural heritage, human remains, news media, or construction of new buildings, among others. It also does not fund endowments, fundraising campaigns, or projects requiring costs outside the $25,000 to $500,000 range.

The application process begins with the submission of a two-page concept note that includes project details, a summary description of activities, anticipated deliverables, and high-quality visual or audiovisual documentation of the site or tradition. Concept notes must be submitted via email to paramaribo-grants@state.gov by midnight on December 15, 2024. Selected applicants will be invited to submit full applications by March 17, 2025.

Applications must outline how the project will preserve cultural heritage, its significance, and the intended impact. Deliverables and results should align with AFCP’s objectives to safeguard cultural heritage and foster international collaboration. SAM registration is mandatory for all applicants, and it is advised to start this process early as it can take several weeks.

The funding opportunity does not guarantee an award and the AFCP reserves the right to modify project scopes and budgets as necessary based on program needs and funding availability. For further information, applicants can contact the Paramaribo Grants Team at paramaribo-grants@state.gov.